Method and apparatus for removing debris from a surface

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for removing debris from a surface employs an air jet to lift the debris from the surface and then vacuums the lifted debris into a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing debris froma surface and, more particularly to a method and apparatus employing anair jet to lift the debris from the surface and a vacuum to then pullthe lifted debris into a container.

2. Prior Art

Many types of power equipment have been used for removing debris fromsurfaces such as floors, lawns and pavements. A sweeper uses a rotatingbrush to push debris from a surface into a bin, a vacuum system uses avacuum to pull debris from a surface into a bin, a blower uses forcedair to blow the debris from the surface, and a washer uses a jet ofwater to rinse the debris from the surface. Since debris removal systemsemploying vacuums alone to remove debris from a surface are often notvery effective in applications where the debris tends to stick to thesurface, some debris gathering systems employ brushes or jets of waterto lift debris from a surface and to direct the debris toward the inletof a bin and employ a vacuum to pull the debris into the bin. Suchcombination systems are often more effective than systems employingbrushes or vacuums alone because in many applications brushes or waterjets are better than vacuums at lifting debris from a surface whilevacuums are better at gathering loose debris into a bin. However,combination systems using brushes or water jets are often not veryeffective on uneven surfaces and are limited to applications where thebrushes or water jets will not damage the surfaces.

In some vacuum systems a vacuum pump attached to a bin outlet creates avacuum in the bin pulling debris into the bin via a vacuum inlet. Afilter residing between the bin and the vacuum prevents the debris fromreaching the vacuum pump's impeller. In other vacuum systems, the vacuumpump is attached to the bin inlet and the debris passes through thevacuum pump's impeller before entering the bin so that the impellershreds the debris. Many hand held blower/vacuums can be configured toalternatively either blow debris from a surface or to vacuum it from thesurface and into a collection bag.

Rotary mowers typically employ forced air created by rotating cuttingblades to blow cut grass and other plant material into a collection bin.However some rotary mowing machines include an in-line, boost vacuum topull the cut grass or other plant material into the collection bin.

Blowers can efficiently remove a light covering of debris from a smallarea, but they just move it from one location to another withoutcollecting it into a bin, and they are not very efficient at removinglarge amounts of debris from a large area, and tend to create dustpollution in the air.

What is needed is a method and apparatus for efficiently removing debrisfrom a wide variety of surfaces without damaging the surfaces, thatefficiently collects the removed debris into a bin, and that does notcreate dust pollution.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method or apparatus in accordance with the invention employs an airjet to lift debris from a surface and then vacuums the lifted debrisinto a container.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a bin and achassis having a first compartment including an inlet port and an outletport, and a second compartment including and air inlet and an outletaperture. A first impeller mounted in the first compartment creates aflow of vacuum air through the inlet port to draw the debris into thefirst compartment, and blows the air and debris out of the outlet portand into the container. A second impeller mounted in the secondcompartment draws air into the second compartment through the air inletand directs it out of the outlet aperture to create the air jet.

In another embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes a chassishaving a first compartment including an inlet port and an outlet port,and second compartment including and air inlet and an outlet aperture.The outlet port of the first compartment is coupled to the air inlet ofthe second compartment through a filter. An impeller mounted in eitherthe first or second compartment creates a flow of air from the firstcompartment into the second compartment, thereby creating a flow ofvacuum air for drawing debris into the first compartment via its inletport and for producing the air jet at the second compartment's outletaperture.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an apparatus forefficiently removing debris from a wide range of surfaces withoutdamaging the surfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, anembodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings depict exemplary embodiments of the invention, and in someinstances, various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated,enlarged or simplified to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an apparatus in accordance with theinvention for removing debris from a surface, the apparatus being towedby a tractor.

FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the main body of the apparatusof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of portions of the main body andimpeller assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional elevation view of the apparatus of FIG.1 showing catch bin assembly in more detail.

FIG. 4A is a rear elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 showing thecatch bin assembly doors in more detail.

FIG. 5 is a simplified side elevation view of an apparatus in accordancewith an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a simplified side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1including an attached flexible pickup tube.

FIG. 6A is a sectional elevation view of the main body of the apparatusof FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation view of an apparatus in accordance witha second preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a sectional elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 7including a remote collection head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method or apparatus for removing debris froma surface. While detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments of theinvention are provided herein below, the invention may be embodied manyforms. Therefore, specific details of the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, butrather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention invirtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view and FIG. 1A is a front elevation view ofan apparatus 61 in accordance with the invention for removing debrisfrom a surface 55. Pulled and powered by a conventional farm tractor 54,apparatus 61 creates an air jet for lifting the debris from surface 55and a vacuum for moving the debris into a catch bin assembly 50. Inaddition to catch bin assembly 50, apparatus 61 includes a main body 58and an impeller assembly 60. Main body 58 includes impellers andbaffling for directing an air jet across surface 55 to dislodge debrisfrom the surface and for directing the debris into catch bin assembly50. Impeller linkage assembly 60 couples the tractor's power take off(PTO) shaft 53 to impellers within main body 58 that create the air jet.A conventional 3-point hitch consisting of a pair of lower links 56 andupper link 52 links apparatus 61 to tractor 54 though three couplings51A, 51B, 51C (FIG. 1A) rigidly mounted on the front of main body 58. Apair of wheels, or alternatively, a roller as illustrated by item 59(FIG. 1A), 59 mounted on the back of main body 58 support main body 58and control the clearance between the rear end of main body 58 andsurface 55.

To transport apparatus 61 when not cleaning surface 55, the operator mayadjust the 3-point hitch to raise lower links 56, thereby raisingapparatus 61 out of contact with surface 55. To begin cleaning surface55, the operator relaxes the 3-point lift controls to lower apparatus 61until wheels 59 contact surface 55. The three-point hitch includes anadjustable length link 52 allowing the tractor operator to control theclearance between main body 58 and surface 55 at point 57 by adjustingthe tilt of body 58 while resting on wheels 59, thereby raising orlowering the front edge of main body with respect to surface 55. Byrelaxing the 3-point lift controls and allowing links 52 and 56 to“float”, the operator can allow apparatus 61, riding on wheels 59, torise, fall or tilt in response to ground irregularities rather than torigidly follow the tractor's attitude.

Alternatively, an additional set of front wheels could be attached tothe lower front edge of main body 58 and the main body could be attachedto tractor 54 through a conventional trailer hitch rather than through a3-point hitch. Tractor 54 could then tow apparatus 61 like a trailerwhile front wheels control the clearance between main body 58 andsurface 55 at point 57. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,PTO shaft 53 transfers rotating power from the tractor's engine toimpeller assembly 60. However, in alternative embodiments of theinvention, an engine may be mounted on main body 58 and coupled bylinkages may provide rotational power to impeller assembly when PTOpower is not available.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of main body 58 including a chassis3 and a pair of bearings 2 mounted on chassis 3 and holding a shaft 10linked to a pair of impellers 4 and 8. A gear (or pulley or sprocket) 21mounted on shaft 10 transfers rotational power to shaft 10 so thatimpellers 4 and 8 spin within their respective air plenums 19 and 5. Thecompressor impeller 4 draws air 1 through an inlet aperture 20 inchassis 3 coaxially located about shaft 10 to create a region ofcompressed, high-pressure air within the plenum 19. An exit port 17 inplenum 19 directs the compressed air across surface 55 at a shallowangle as a broad jet spanning the full width of body 58. The air jetpenetrates under debris, lifts it from surface 55 and blows it forwardtoward a vacuum horn 14 at the front end of main body 58. Vacuum horn 14forms a plenum for conducting air and debris in an area 16 near surface55 to an inlet aperture 12 of plenum 5. Vacuum impeller 8 spins to expelair and debris from plenum 5 out of a debris exit port 7 and into thecatch bin assembly, thereby creating a partial vacuum in plenum 5drawing vacuum air flow 6 through vacuum horn 14 and vacuum inletaperture 12. Vacuum horn 14 entraps the debris the air jet impeller 4blows into area 16 until vacuum air flow 6 can pull it into plenum 5.

A removable plate 11 covers a hole through vacuum horn 14 coaxiallyaligned with shaft 10 serving as an inspection port and to provideaccess for removing any debris that may become jammed in the inlet hornair path.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the bearings 2, shaft 10 andimpellers 4 and 8 of FIG. 2 along with portions of the linkage includedwithin impeller assembly 60 of FIG. 1. The linkage includes an inputshaft 32 having splines 35 for mating with PTO shaft 53 (FIG. 1)suitably keyed to prevent slippage when torque is applied by the tractorengine. A pair of bearings 36 resides on slide plates 34 mounted bypairs of bolts 37 on rails 33. Bearings 36 hold and align shaft 32approximately centered between the three mounting points of the 3-pointhitch 51 of FIG. 1A. A chain 30 links sprocket 31 to sprocket 21. Toprovide proper tension on chain 30, an operator loosens bolts 37, slidesplates 34 along rails 33 and then clamps them into position bytightening bolts 37. The gear ratio of sprockets 21 and 31 is sized toallow the impellers 4 and 8 to rotate at a suitable speed when shaft 32rotates at the standard PTO rotation speed. Although the preferredembodiment of the invention uses a roller chain and sprocket drivemechanism those of skill in the art will understand that othermechanical drive mechanisms, such as for example, meshed gears orpulleys and belts, could be employed.

FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional elevation view of the apparatus 61 ofFIG. 1 showing catch bin assembly 50 in more detail. FIG. 4A is a rearelevation view of apparatus 61 showing catch bin assembly 50 doors andhinges in more detail. Catch bin assembly 50 includes a bin 70 residingon a mounting frame 73 and connected to the mounting frame by a hinge74. Bin 70 includes a pair of doors 75 attached by hinges 76 and latches77. Frame 73, mounted on main body 58, positions the bottom of bin 70over debris exit port 7 so that debris enters bin 70 when expelled fromthe exit port. Portions of bin 70 walls and doors 75 are formed by atough filter mesh for filtering debris from the air while allowing theair to pass out of bin 70. A deflector plate 41 (FIG. 1A) located at thetop of exit port 7 causes air and debris to rotate within bin 70 anddeflects highly energetic debris from a straight path that may causepremature wear of bin wall material opposite exit port 7.

Doors 75 open to allow an operator to remove debris from bin 70. Asimple latch 77 holds the doors closed during operation. Bin 70 ismounted on frame 73 by a hinge or hinges 74 allowing the operator totilt the bin back when emptying the bin of debris. A tilt latch 72mounted at the front of the machine between the frame 73 and bin 70holds the bin against the frame when the bin is being filled and allowsthe bin to be unlatched and tilted when emptying the bin. A short chain78 (FIG. 4B) or length of cable or telescoping brace connected betweenframe 73 and bin 70 limits the amount by which bin 70 can be tilted.Doors 75 fold completely around to the sides of bin 70 to be completelyout of the way while dumping debris out of bin 70. A simple latch 79retains the doors in a fully opened position against gravity while bin70 is tilted.

An operator can stop the tractor PTO drive, back apparatus 71 to adumping location and raise the 3-point connection if necessary to gainadditional height over debris already in that location or to clear someobstacle, such as a safety barrier guarding a drop. The operatorunlatches and fully opens doors 75, secures them open using latches 79,releases latch 72 and then tilts bin 70 to empty the debris. Hinge 74resides somewhat forward of doors 75 to help reduce the force needed totilt bin 70 when full of debris but resides sufficiently to the rear ofthe center of mass of bin 70 that the bin will remain seated in thenon-tilted position even when unlatched until forced to tilt.Additionally, the preferred embodiment places the rear frame and tilthinge far enough back so that debris falls beyond the rearmostprojection of the chassis and wheels when bin 70 is being emptied.

FIG. 5 is a simplified side elevation view of an alternative embodimentof the invention that is generally similar to the apparatus of FIG. 4except that bin 70 of FIG. 4 is replaced with a wheeled bin 89 towedbehind main body 58 via a hitch 88 and receiver 87 rather than mountedupon the main body. A flexible hose or rigid conduit 85 and an adaptor86 provide a path for air and debris from exit port 7 to an inlet port84 of bin 89. Bin 89 may be open or enclosed by filter mesh. Theapparatus of FIG. 5 is particularly suitable for cleaning largeexpanses, such as for example a golf course, because bin 89 can hold alarge amount of debris.

FIG. 6 is a simplified side elevation view of the apparatus 61 of FIGS.1 and 2 and FIG. 6A is a sectional elevation view of the main body 58 ofFIG. 6 wherein cover plate 11 on vacuum horn 14 of the main body 58(FIG. 2) has been removed and replaced with an adapter 101 for attachinga flexible hose 91 to vacuum horn 14. When it is not practical to pullapparatus 61 over an area to be cleaned of debris, such as for example aflower bed, an operator can install pickup hose 91 on apparatus 61 anduse it to sweep an area free of debris. A hose adaptor 101, having amounting flange 105 is attached to air horn 14 in place of cover plate11 (FIG. 2) to provide a point of attachment for flexible vacuum hose91. Adapter 101 extends into vacuum inlet aperture 12 and blocks airflow 13 in vacuum horn 14, thereby allowing impeller 8 to draw air anddebris flow 104 in through hose 91 and to force the air and debris outof debris exit port 7. A cover plate 100 can be installed over inputaperture 20 when necessary to suppress jet airflow 1 when vacuum hose 91is in use. Pickup hose 91 could also be installed in a similar fashionat the inlet aperture 12 of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative implementation of a portion of adebris removal apparatus accordance with the invention for removingdebris from surface 55. A single impeller 120 mounted in a compartment121 of a chassis 123 provides all motive force for creating an air jet119 through an aperture 117 for lifting debris from surface 55 and forcreating a vacuum air flow 122 for drawing the debris into anothercompartment 124 of chassis 123. Impeller 120, driven by a shaft assembly128 linked to a source of rotational power, draws air from compartment124 into compartment 121 through a filter element 126 to provide air jet119. As it draws air from within compartment 124, impeller 120 lowersair pressure within compartment 124, thereby creating vacuum flow 122through an aperture 130 in compartment 124. Since this embodiment of theinvention recycles the air it uses, it reduces dust discharge into thesurrounding air. A removable cover 132 provides access to the interiorof compartment 124 for removing accumulated debris, for accessing toshaft assembly 128, and for servicing and cleaning filter element 126.An adaptor, similar to adaptor 101 of FIG. 6A, can be installed in placeof cover 132 to provide for a vacuum hose connection to compartment 124.

FIG. 7A illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 7 to which has been fittedflexible hoses 131 and 132 coupling a cleaning head 130 to aperture 117and inlet port 109 of chassis 123. Cleaning head 130 and hose 131 conveyan air jet 133 from aperture 117 for lifting debris from surface 55.Cleaning head 130 and flexible hose 132 provide an inlet air flow 134from surface 55 to inlet port 109 for conveying the lifted debris intocompartment 124.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention tothe particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended tocover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. An apparatus for removing debris from a surface, the apparatuscomprising: a chassis having a first compartment having an inlet port,first means for directing a jet of air at the debris to lift the debrisfrom the surface, and for moving the debris lifted from the surface intothe first compartment via the inlet port.
 2. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 1 wherein the first means directs the air jet in a directionsubstantially parallel to the surface.
 3. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 1 wherein the first means removes air from the firstcompartment, thereby creating a flow of air into the first compartmentvia the inlet port for carrying the debris lifted from the surface intothe first compartment via the inlet port.
 4. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 3 further comprising: a container, wherein the first meansremoves the air from the first compartment by blowing the air out of thefirst compartment and into the container thereby creating a flow of airthrough the first compartment via the inlet port for carrying the debrislifted from the surface into the first compartment via the inlet portand through the first compartment into the container.
 5. The apparatusin accordance with claim 4 wherein the chassis comprises a secondcompartment having an outlet port: and wherein the first meanscomprises: a first impeller mounted in the first compartment for blowingthe air out of the first compartment, and a second impeller mounted inthe second compartment for creating the air jet by blowing air out ofthe outlet port.
 6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein thefirst means comprises second means connected to the first and secondimpellers for rotating the first and second impellers.
 7. The apparatusin accordance with claim 6 wherein the second means comprises means forcoupling a power takeoff drive shaft to the first and second impellerssuch that the first and second impellers rotate when the power takeoffdrive shaft rotates.
 8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 whereinthe second means comprises: a motor having a rotating shaft, and meansfor coupling the rotating shaft to the first and second impellers sothat the first and second impellers rotate when the motor rotates itsshaft.
 9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the chassisfurther comprises a second compartment having an outlet port, andwherein the first means moves air from the first compartment into thesecond compartment, and creates the air jet by moving air out of thesecond compartment via the outlet port.
 10. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 9 wherein the first means filters the air it moves from thefirst compartment into the second compartment so that debris remains inthe first compartment.
 11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10wherein the first means comprises: an impeller rotatably mounted in oneof said first and second compartments for moving air from the firstcompartment into the second compartment, and a filter for filtering airmoved from the first compartment into the second compartment.
 12. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first means furthercomprises means for coupling the impeller to a power takeoff drive shaftand for rotating the impeller when the power takeoff drive shaftrotates.
 13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the firstmeans further comprises: a motor having a shaft, and means for couplingthe impeller to the shaft so that the impeller rotates when the motorrotates its shaft.
 14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 furthercomprising: a flexible hose, and means for selectively blocking the flowof air into the first compartment via the inlet port and for couplingthe flexible hose to the chassis such that air conveys debris throughthe flexible hose and into the chassis.
 15. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 1 wherein the first means comprises: a cleaning head, a firstflexible hose coupling the cleaning head to the chassis, a secondflexible hose coupling the cleaning head to the inlet port, and meansfor creating a first air flow from the chassis, through the firstflexible hose and the cleaning head such that the cleaning head producesthe air jet, and for creating a second air flow into the cleaning head,through the second flexible hose and the inlet port, for moving thedebris lifted from the surface into the first compartment.
 16. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein the cleaning head directsthe air jet substantially parallel to the surface.
 17. A method forremoving debris from a surface comprising the steps of: a. directing ajet of air at the debris to lift the debris from the surface, and b.vacuuming the debris lifted from the surface into a first compartmentvia an inlet port of the first compartment.
 18. The method in accordancewith claim 17 wherein step b comprises removing air from the firstcompartment, thereby creating a flow of air into the input port forconveying the debris lifted from the surface into the first compartment.19. The method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising the stepof: c. directing the air removed from the first compartment into acontainer such that the air conveys debris from the first compartmentinto the container.
 20. The method in accordance with claim 18 furthercomprising the steps of: c. directing the air removed from the firstcompartment into a second compartment through a filter, which filtersdebris from the air so that it remains in the first compartment.
 21. Themethod in accordance with claim 20 wherein the second compartmentincludes an outlet aperture, and wherein the air directed into thesecond compartment pass out of the outlet aperture to form the air jet.22. The method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising the stepsof: c. coupling a flexible hose to the first compartment so that air canenter the first compartment via the flexible hose, and d. blocking theinlet port to prevent air from entering the first compartment via theinlet port.